Social networking sites and our lives (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Pew Internet and American Life ^ | June 16, 2011 | Staff

[abb]

Questions have been raised about the social impact of widespread use of social networking sites (SNS) like Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, and Twitter. Do these technologies isolate people and truncate their relationships? Or are there benefits associated with being connected to others in this way? The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project decided to examine SNS in a survey that explored people’s overall social networks and how use of these technologies is related to trust, tolerance, social support, and community and political engagement.

The findings presented here paint a rich and complex picture of the role that digital technology plays in people’s social worlds. Wherever possible, we seek to disentangle whether people’s varying social behaviors and attitudes are related to the different ways they use social networking sites, or to other relevant demographic characteristics, such as age, gender and social class. The number of those using social networking sites has nearly doubled since 2008 and the population of SNS users has gotten older.

In this Pew Internet sample, 79% of American adults said they used the internet and nearly half of adults (47%), or 59% of internet users, say they use at least one of SNS. This is close to double the 26% of adults (34% of internet users) who used a SNS in 2008. Among other things, this means the average age of adult-SNS users has shifted from 33 in 2008 to 38 in 2010. Over half of all adult SNS users are now over the age of 35. Some 56% of SNS users now are female.

Facebook dominates the SNS space in this survey: 92% of SNS users are on Facebook; 29% use MySpace, 18% used LinkedIn and 13% use Twitter.

There is considerable variance in the way people use various social networking sites: 52% of Facebook users and 33% of Twitter users engage with the platform daily, while only 7% of MySpace and 6% of LinkedIn users do the same.

On Facebook on an average day:

15% of Facebook users update their own status. 22% comment on another’s post or status. 20% comment on another user’s photos. 26% “Like” another user’s content. 10% send another user a private message

Facebook users are more trusting than others.

We asked people if they felt “that most people can be trusted.” When we used regression analysis to control for demographic factors, we found that the typical internet user is more than twice as likely as others to feel that people can be trusted. Further, we found that Facebook users are even more likely to be trusting. We used regression analysis to control for other factors and found that a Facebook user who uses the site multiple times per day is 43% more likely than other internet users and more than three times as likely as non-internet users to feel that most people can be trusted. Facebook users have more close relationships.

The average American has just over two discussion confidants (2.16) – that is, people with whom they discuss important matters. This is a modest, but significantly larger number than the average of 1.93 core ties reported when we asked this same question in 2008. Controlling for other factors we found that someone who uses Facebook several times per day averages 9% more close, core ties in their overall social network compared with other internet users. Facebook users get more social support than other people.

We looked at how much total support, emotional support, companionship, and instrumental aid adults receive. On a scale of 100, the average American scored 75/100 on a scale of total support, 75/100 on emotional support (such as receiving advice), 76/100 in companionship (such as having people to spend time with), and 75/100 in instrumental aid (such as having someone to help if they are sick in bed).

Internet users in general score 3 points higher in total support, 6 points higher in companionship, and 4 points higher in instrumental support. A Facebook user who uses the site multiple times per day tends to score an additional 5 points higher in total support, 5 points higher in emotional support, and 5 points higher in companionship, than internet users of similar demographic characteristics. For Facebook users, the additional boost is equivalent to about half the total support that the average American receives as a result of being married or cohabitating with a partner. Facebook users are much more politically engaged than most people.

Our survey was conducted over the November 2010 elections. At that time, 10% of Americans reported that they had attended a political rally, 23% reported that they had tried to convince someone to vote for a specific candidate, and 66% reported that they had or intended to vote. Internet users in general were over twice as likely to attend a political meeting, 78% more likely to try and influence someone’s vote, and 53% more likely to have voted or intended to vote. Compared with other internet users, and users of other SNS platforms, a Facebook user who uses the site multiple times per day was an additional two and half times more likely to attend a political rally or meeting, 57% more likely to persuade someone on their vote, and an additional 43% more likely to have said they would vote. Facebook revives “dormant” relationships.

In our sample, the average Facebook user has 229 Facebook friends. They reported that their friends list contains:

22% people from high school 12% extended family 10% coworkers 9% college friends 8% immediate family 7% people from voluntary groups 2% neighbors

Over 31% of Facebook friends cannot be classified into these categories. However, only 3% of Facebook friends are people users have never met in person, and only 7% are people who have met only one time. The remainder is friends-of-friends and social ties that are not currently active relationships, but “dormant” ties that may, at some point in time, become an important source of information. Social networking sites are increasingly used to keep up with close social ties.

Looking only at those people that SNS users report as their core discussion confidants, 40% of users have friended all of their closest confidants. This is a substantial increase from the 29% of users who reported in our 2008 survey that they had friended all of their core confidants. MySpace users are more likely to be open to opposing points of view.

We measured “perspective taking,” or the ability of people to consider multiple points of view. There is no evidence that SNS users, including those who use Facebook, are any more likely than others to cocoon themselves in social networks of like-minded and similar people, as some have feared.

Moreover, regression analysis found that those who use MySpace have significantly higher levels of perspective taking. The average adult scored 64/100 on a scale of perspective taking, using regression analysis to control for demographic factors, a MySpace user who uses the site a half dozen times per month tends to score about 8 points higher on the scale.

[abb]

The gatekeepers of information flow continue to lose...

[abb]

ping

[tet68]

Sorry, don’t do social media, it’s insanity.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

We measured “perspective taking,” or the ability of people to consider multiple points of view.

They are worried they can no longer limit public discussion solely to the parameters they want...

[ken5050]

Maybe it’s time for a separate, for profit, SNS version of FR..”Right FRiends”..is a workable title..

[abb]

http://www.adweek.com/news/television/netflix-becomes-cable-shows-obsession-132590
Netflix Becomes Cable Show’s Obsession - Rental site’s rise as streaming video giant irritates an industry

http://www.adweek.com/news/television/media-buyers-warn-tv-ad-downturn-132587
Media Buyers Warn of TV Ad Downturn

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=152502
Interpublic Downgrades U.S. Ad Outlook, Cites ‘First Signs Of Weakness’

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/Features/Article/Tea-Party-Group-Sues-Righthaven—Denver-Post-Over-Copyright-Litigation-Campaign
Tea Party Group Sues Righthaven, Denver Post Over Copyright Litigation Campaign

[Steely Tom]

One week after getting on Facebook and getting friended by dozens of people from my past, I have to say it’s been 25% enjoyable and 75% an unpleasant shock, finding out depressing and disturbing things about old friends and being reminded of things I’d finally — and mercifully — forgotten about.

[abb]

They are worried they can no longer limit public discussion solely to the parameters they want...

Correct. That's always been what it is all about. Pope Leo X, for example, didn't want Martin Luther running around spouting heresy.

[exDemMom]

I wonder exactly what they consider “using” Facebook. I have a Facebook account, with 4 friends. Every few weeks, I look at it, decide it’s still useless and pointless, and forget about it again.

It’s not surprising that people who are more trusting (gullible?) of other people gravitate to Facebook. If someone isn’t worried about stalkers, identity theft, etc., and thinks anyone talking about those is a fearmonger, why shouldn’t they put their whole life out there for anyone to see?

[abb]

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/469797-Second_Hearing_on_Reforming_FCC_Process_Scheduled_for_June_22.php
Second Hearing on Reforming FCC Process Scheduled for June 22

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/469799-Koppel_CBS_Trying_to_Do_Harder_News.php
Koppel: CBS Trying to Do Harder News

http://gigaom.com/2011/06/15/future-of-media-community-is-your-new-business-model/
Future of media: Community is your new business model

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=13853937
Weiner Story Lets New CBS Anchor Carve Path

[stuartcr]

That’s a good way to keep out people with different views or even questions.

[abb]

I’ve not done Facebook or Twitter, but I do have my own newsblog where I do local news (city council, school board, etc).

However, I’ve noticed those who use Facebook are very well informed as to local gossip (who’s sick, who had a car wreck, who won the little league game, who’s divorcing, etc).

[abb]

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/06/righthaven-legal-action/
Bloggers Mull Legal Action Against Righthaven

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nbc-chairman-robert-greenblatt-shares-201962
NBC Chairman Robert Greenblatt Shares His Plan to Rebuild the Network

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/TV_This_Week_47/Handicapping-the-U-S-Open-without-Tiger.asp
Handicapping the U.S. Open without Tiger

http://www.multichannel.com/article/469801-Cable_Show_2011_Advertising_Dollars_Flowing_to_Cable.php
Cable Show 2011: Advertising Dollars Flowing to Cable

[AppyPappy]

It’s nice to keep up with old friends, fraternity brothers, family, etc. Some people are annoying like chronically unemployed friend who wanted everyone to chip in and buy him an air conditioner. I just hide their stuff.

There are hard parts. It was hard to get used to guys with their “husbands” but that’s just part of the world now. Finding old girlfriends and seeing their husbands look much better than I do is disconcerting but good for them. I’m sure seeing my wife makes them feel the same way (”How did that old scroungy fool get her?”). In the end, it is much better to be able to interface with people from way back and count your blessings.

[redgolum]

Had similar things happen.

Though I did get reconnected with a few people I had lost touch with decades ago. One in particular has turned their life around, and wanted to thank me.

[PrincessB]

I agree. I found a friend from middle school. My family moved around a lot and in the teen years, I lost touch with everyone from that school. We actually talk on the phone about once every other month.

I have one “friend” I’ve never met. We were moderating groups for our sorority’s chapter for different decades and decided to merge them. She’s a really interesting lady and I hope to meet her one day.

There is also a secondary market that has popped up: special interest networking. I am a creative writer by hobby. I found a social networking site where I can trade projects for critiques, get tips on getting published, etc. Yes, there is a risk of plagiarism, but so far I have connected with some really good writers who don’t need to steal my work.

[dalereed]

You couoldn’t pay me to use that crap and I don’t know anyone personally that does use it!

[Buckeye McFrog]

My wife joined Facebook to keep in touch with family members scattered across the country, and now gets sucked into it for hours and hours and hours each week.

[HIDEK6]

You couoldn’t pay me to use that crap and I don’t know anyone personally that does use it!

... now get offa my lawn!